19 September, 2017
06 May, 2018
51 Arnas Butkevicius (LTU)
15/11/2017
Game Report
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Triple-double Butkevicius leads Neptunas past PAOK

KLAIPEDA (Basketball Champions League) - Arnas Butkevicius recorded the second triple-double in Basketball Champions League history and led Neptunas Klaipeda to their third straight triumph on Wednesday night.

Named in Lithuania's squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers, the 25-year-old small forward had 19 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks to fire Neptunas to an 82-69 victory.

Chris Kramer got the first triple-double last season while a member of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg team in a January win over Muratbey Usak Sportif.

A member of the title-winning Lithuania team at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia, Butkevicius came up with one of the most spectacular plays of the season. After Juan Palacios passed ahead to him on a fast break, the small forward delivered a perfect, no-look behind-the-back pass to a streaking Renaldas Seibutis for a lay-up early in the contest.

PAOK, with Butkevicius wreaking havoc in the first half, fell behind by as many as 26 points but crept back into the contest in the fourth quarter and trailed 72-62 after a layup by Linos Chrysikopoulos.

Mindaugas Girdziunas scored on a drive and Butkevicius stretched the lead to 15 with a 3-pointer as Neptunas made sure to keep their noses in front for good.

It seemed that Butkevicius might come up an assist shy of the triple-double but then it all came good for him at the end.

Coach Kazys Maksvytis and the Neptunas players were clearly aware he was close to making headlines because with just over 2 seconds remaining, they gave him one last opportunity to collect the 10th assist.

Neptunas celebrate with Butkevicius after his triple-double

He inbounded the ball to Seibutis and the veteran made a layup right before the buzzer. The players then ran to Butkevicius to celebrate their win and his big night.